Chom Her

Chom Her

Co-owner/Provider

Service array: Certified Peer Specialist (CPS), Individual Skill Development and Enhancement (ISDE), Youth Mentor, and Recovery Coach

I was born in a refugee camp in Thailand, where I spent my first four years, until the Chippewa Valley area sponsored my family to Wisconsin. My sponsor who helped my parents and my family has been instrumental in the opportunities to better our lives in the United States.

However, I was faced with an unfamiliar culture in America. I had difficulty bridging the divide between the traditional Hmong culture and the culture of western Wisconsin. My disconnect from the communities, along with the childhood traumas I experienced led me down destructive paths, leading to addiction and eventual incarceration.

While incarcerated and after my incarceration, I wanted to better myself. I wanted to do something not many Hmong men would be willing to do. I used my life experiences and structured routines of physical fitness, education, and mindfulness to break free of the destructive patterns of recidivism, addiction, and self-despair. Through my journey, I received mentoring from several individuals, which I contribute much of my continued successes.

Today, I am proud to have the opportunity to provide support and relatability to individuals seeking a way to break free of negative cycles and patterns in life. I mentor and support others in pursuit of helping them find their own tools to be successful, even when the odds may be stacked against them.

I use physical fitness instruction, outdoor sports, and activities to achieve wellness. I also help others build structured routines to promote health, responsibility, and mindfulness. I credit these activities for my development of self-confidence, and a sense of identity, as the key to rising out of hardships and challenges I’ve faced in my life. I find it an honor to be the person for someone else that I needed at times along my journey.